Ultimate Warriors fans travel in style

Kerah Tauroa-Wall, 8, helps deliver the match ball in spectacular fashion. Photo / Stephen Parker

Her family are no strangers to winning competitions, but Kristin Tauroa says flying in by helicopter to deliver the match ball for the Warriors v Panthers game is her best score yet.

Ms Tauroa and her daughters, Kerah Tauroa-Wall, 8, and 5-year-old Kyah Tauroa-Wall arrived at Rotorua's International Stadium by helicopter, before Kerah delivered the match ball to Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins to start the game.

"Oh my God, it was the ultimate experience," Ms Tauroa said.

The family, including John Wall, won the chance to deliver the ball through a Flava radio competition aimed at finding the ultimate fans. As well as the helicopter ball delivery - which was the girls' favourite part - the family spent a night in Rotorua before the game and dined out with both teams.

Ms Tauroa said the girls would have plenty to talk about today when they went back to Te Kura o Hirangi in Turangi.

"They're still coming down from it all."

Ms Tauroa said Mr Wall had been "a league fanatic since he was young" - she had developed a love of the game through him. The girls liked "certain players" and enjoyed sitting and watching league as well.

The best part was getting to enjoy the experience together as a family and, while Mr Wall did not go on the helicopter, he was at the stadium to watch them make their celebrity appearance.

"We'd never been in a helicopter. Everyone was just waving and cheering."

She said while Mr Wall was "pretty lucky," winning quite a few competitions, this was the "best one ever".

The family's ride in the helicopter was supplied by Helicorp.